Malakoi & Arsekonoites-- A Straight Only sign?

Malakoi --- Literally “soft”. The term has been understood as referring to all of the following:

1. The partner in a male-to-male anal intercourse who takes on a more “passive“ or “submissive“ role.

2. A weak-willed person, without the backbone to stand up against temptation.

3. A male prostitute.

4. One who masturbates.

5. A man who acts more feminine so as to woo women, ie a womanizer.

6. A male prostitute who takes on a more passive or submissive role in intercourse.

Elsewhere in the New Testament, malakoi has no sexual meaning to it. For instance, in Matthew 11:7-9, modern translations translates malakoi as “fine”, “soft”, or “fancy” as in fine, soft, or fancy clothes.

In Greek culture, however, malakoi could be euphemistic. It was then used to describe one of the following: 1. A morally weak individual, one with no back-bone. 2. The younger partner in sexual activity between a male slave-owner and a younger, male slave, or an adult man and a older boy or young male teenager. “Soft” referred to the lack of facial hair and other of the less “harsh” signs of aging in men. 3. A male prostitute, since generally they tended to be soft-faced and soft-skinned, being picked from younger men and older boys.

Arsekonoites -- A combination of two words, the Greek for male and bed. Literally, male-bedder. The earliest recorded usage of the term is by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians and its meaning is uncertain. Here is the range of interpretation of the word’s meaning by later authors:

1. The more partner in male-to-male anal intercourse who takes on the more active or dominant role.

2. Anyone who engages in anal intercourse with anyone, whether a man or a woman.

3. A woman who takes on the more active or dominant role in intercourse with a man.

4. A man who frequents a male prostitute.

5. A pedophile.

6. A male prostitute who takes on an active or dominant role in intercourse.

Scholars are not in agreement about the proper way to translate these two words and even whether they refer to any same-sex intimacy at all.

Yet, many Christians argue that these words mean “You are not Welcome!” for gays and lesbians, not mentioning these uncertainties. Could this be the voice of prejudice and not the voice of God?